Meet the Developers
Rachel and David Igel, Principals of Igel Properties and Chevalle Development Company
Chanhassen, Minnesota residents Rachel (age 40) and David Igel (age 37) specialize in master planning and implementing environmentally sensitive residential real estate developments. Their signature approach to development involves a combination of environmental restoration, conservation and educational outreach. They invest in the natural landscape to enhance the value and beauty of the home sites and neighborhoods within their developments.
Their company, Igel Properties LLC, handles acquisitions, restorations, rental and sales of commercial, single and multi-family properties in the Twin Cities area. It has completed and/or collaborated on a number of "high amenity" residential developments, including the custom lakeshore development Big Woods on Lotus Lake in Chanhassen, where the Igels currently reside. Igel Properties has contracted Chevalle Development Company to manage the development of Chevalle, which is the couples� largest project to date.
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The Igels� Vision for Chevalle
The Igels� unique vision for Chevalle led to the creation of this 300-acre, environmentally-sensitive conservation development on the north shore of Lake Bavaria in Chaska. As a result, 2/3 of this land�rich with prairie, woods and wetlands�is now permanently protected greenspace. The remaining 1/3 features lifecycle housing and recreational amenties that appeal to everyone from young professionals to growing families to empty nesters and retirees. Depending on which Chevalle neighborhood you choose, home prices range from the $300,000's to more that $2 million. Some Chevalle neighborhoods feature maintenance-free living. All Chevalle residents enjoy lake access and private parks as well as the many trails and other amenities that are open to the public.
Both Rachel and David are Minnesota natives.
Rachel and David both grew up in Minnesota�Eagan and Taylors Falls, respectively. Rachel earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of St. Catherine, 1990, and a Juris Doctorate degree from William Mitchell College of Law, 1993. David earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Entrepreneurship from the University of St. Thomas, 1992. They were married in 1995 and have two children, Lucas (8) and Zo� (6) who attend St. Hubert�s School in Chanhassen.
Rachel is an avid equestrian and a strong advocate for therapeutic riding programs.
Rachel is an avid equestrian who trains and competes with Saddlebreds. She also enjoys long trail rides with friends and family and watching her children learn to ride. Seven years ago, Rachel became committed to helping disabled children manage and overcome their disabilities through therapeutic riding. Rachel now runs a nonprofit called Reins of Hope, which is dedicated to eliminating the barriers to children receiving therapeutic riding opportunities.
David is a pilot, a boater and an avid downhill skier.
Outside of work, David is a private pilot (flying both single engine aircraft and helicopters), an experienced boater (everything from taking the kids boarding on the lake to ferrying large yachts from the Chesapeake Bay through the Erie Canal across the Great Lakes to Lake Superior), and an avid downhill skier (with a 17 year history as a volunteer and professional ski instructor and race coach). His greatest passion is spending time with his family-- on the water, in the air or simply hanging out in the great outdoors.
Rachel's experience as an environmental law attorney was a key element in the creation of Chevalle.
Drawing upon her extensive background as an environmental law attorney and her expertise in real estate development, Rachel individually identified, negotiated and purchased the 300 acres of contiguous land from private parties located on Lake Bavaria in Chaska for the development of Chevalle. Read more about Rachel�s legal expertise here.
David�s success in real estate asset development paved his road to Chevalle
Prior to founding Igel Properties, David developed, built and owned hundreds of communications sites and towers throughout the country. As Chief Manager and majority shareholder of Tonka Towers LLC, he acquired a large portfolio of communications towers and through zoning, lease management and multiple new approvals he took the portfolio from a single dimension Telecom asset to a true Real Estate asset. Tonka Towers then leased space to companies including T-mobile, Verizon, AT&T, US Cellular, Sprint and other high-profile wireless carriers. He recently managed the lucrative sale of the majority of Tonka Towers� assets to a large publicly traded Real Estate Investment Trust.